La Porte commission approves 2026 Indiana Landmarks contract with reduced routine attendance

The La Porte Historic Preservation Commission voted March 17 to approve a 2026 professional services contract with Indiana Landmarks that reduces routine meeting attendance by the Landmarks representative while preserving the group's ability to request targeted assistance for complicated certificates of appropriateness (COAs) and designation work.

Commissioners were told the revised contract lowers the overall fee compared with prior years and clarifies that regular site visits for COAs are not included in the base contract. The Landmarks representative said the organization will "come in when we ask him to" for guidance on difficult COAs, designation work and occasional education, rather than attending every meeting.

Commissioner questions focused on a clause labeled in the draft contract as excluding certain site visits and consultation within state and local historic districts; the Landmarks representative explained such wording indicates routine site visits are not part of the base fee and that staff can supplement applications with materials when a site visit is not conducted. "Most of the time I can get what I need from public records or from whatever you guys give me," the representative said when describing the review process.

The commission approved a motion to accept the contract not to exceed $3,500 with an initial payment of $1,500 plus membership fees at a discounted $35 per commission member. The motion was seconded, put to voice vote and carried.

Commissioners asked staff to continue submitting COA material through the online portal and to coordinate with the Landmarks representative when additional information or site visits are needed.

The vote clears the commission to proceed under the revised contract terms and to request targeted Landmarks support as needed.